Google Pixel 9/Pro/Fold Impressions: They've Finally Done It?

Summary

Google unveils its latest Pixel 9 series smartphones, including the Pixel 9, 9 Pro, 9 Pro XL, and the innovative 9 Pro Fold. Sporting a new design, brighter displays, and the powerful Tensor G4 chip, these devices offer enhanced AI capabilities and impressive camera features. The Pixel Watch 3 and Pixel Buds Pro 2 also debut, promising longer battery life and improved sound quality. The comprehensive lineup aims to deliver a flagship experience with a modern touch.

Takeaways

• 📱 Google introduced the Pixel 9 series with models including the Pixel 9, Pixel 9 Pro, Pixel 9 Pro XL, and Pixel 9 Pro Fold.
• 💰 The base Pixel 9 starts at $799, featuring a 6.3-inch screen and a new design with matte metal sides and a polished glass back in four colors.
• 📸 The Pixel 9 Pro and Pro XL offer the same size as the Pixel 9 but with a larger 6.8-inch screen on the XL, an extra telephoto camera, more RAM, and a glossy design.
• 🔋 The Pro models start at $999 and $1,099, with improvements like a brighter Actual display, thinner bezels, and an ultrasonic fingerprint reader.
• 📷 The camera setup on the Pixel 9 series promises better photos with larger sensors and a new camera visor design that's polarizing but functional.
• 🤖 The new Tensor G4 chip powers all Pixel 9 models, offering enhanced performance, efficiency, and AI capabilities.
• 🌐 Google's AI features include a redesigned Weather app, a new Screenshots app, and Pixel Studio for AI-generated art, emphasizing the device's AI prowess.
• 🔧 The Magic Editor in photos introduces a 'Reimagine' feature allowing users to alter and create new scenes within their photos.
• 👤 The 'Add Me' feature in the camera app enables users to take group photos including themselves without the need for an external photographer.
• 📱 The Pixel 9 Pro Fold is a significant upgrade from the previous foldable, with a larger, brighter screen, and a premium design, priced at $1,799.
• ⌚ The Pixel Watch 3 and Pixel Buds Pro 2 were also announced, with the watch featuring a new dual chip architecture for longer battery life and the buds offering improved noise cancellation and sound quality.

Q & A

What new products were announced by Google at their Pixel 9 event?

At the Pixel 9 event, Google announced several new products including the Pixel 9, Pixel 9 Pro, Pixel 9 Pro XL, Pixel 9 Pro Fold, a new watch, and new Pixel Buds.

What are the main differences between the Pixel 9 and the Pixel 9 Pro?

The main differences between the Pixel 9 and the Pixel 9 Pro are the screen size, camera setup, RAM, and price. The Pixel 9 Pro has a larger screen, an additional telephoto camera, more RAM, and a higher price point compared to the base Pixel 9.

What is the starting price for the Pixel 9 and how does it compare to the Pro models?

The starting price for the Pixel 9 is $799. The Pro models start at $999 for the Pixel 9 Pro and $1,099 for the Pixel 9 Pro XL, indicating a price difference of $200 between the base model and the Pro models.

What new design features are present in the Pixel 9 series?

The new design features in the Pixel 9 series include flat matte metal sides, a polished glass back, and a camera visor with a large lens opening. They also come in four color options and have a more solid feel due to being slightly heavier.

What improvements were made to the camera system in the Pixel 9 series?

The Pixel 9 series features larger sensors for potentially more shallow depth of field, a new telephoto camera in the Pro models, and an ultrasonic fingerprint reader under the display instead of an optical one.

What is the Tensor G4 chip and what benefits does it bring to the new Pixel phones?

The Tensor G4 chip is a new processor in the Pixel 9 series that is more powerful and efficient. It offers dramatically better AI capabilities, faster web browsing, and quicker app launching compared to its predecessor.

What are some of the new AI features introduced with the Pixel 9 series?

New AI features introduced with the Pixel 9 series include the redesigned Google Weather app with AI-generated comments, a new Screenshots app that organizes and scans screenshots, and Pixel Studio, an app for creating AI-generated art on device.

What is the 'Add Me' feature in the Pixel 9 camera and how does it work?

The 'Add Me' feature allows a person to be included in a group photo without needing a separate photographer. It guides the user to take a photo of the group, then have the person who was taking the photo join the group by overlaying their position and snapping a second photo to merge with the first.

What is the Pixel 9 Pro Fold and how does it compare to the previous Pixel Fold?

The Pixel 9 Pro Fold is Google's new folding phone. It has a larger 6.3-inch outer screen, an 80% brighter display than the previous Fold, and a larger 8-inch inner display. It also has a premium design with metal rails and a soft-touch matte glass back.

What are the new features of the Pixel Watch 3 and how does it differ from its predecessor?

The Pixel Watch 3 comes in two sizes, with a new larger 45-millimeter option offering 40% more screen. It has a brighter display, a new body score feature, improved running features, and a dual chip architecture for longer battery life.

What are the key features of the new Pixel Buds Pro 2?

The new Pixel Buds Pro 2 have a smaller design without stalks, a custom-designed A1 chip based on Tensor for improved noise cancellation and sound quality, and the ability to have a back-and-forth conversation with the Gemini Live assistant.

Outlines

00:00

🤩 Google Pixel 9 Series Unveiled

The script introduces Google's Pixel 9 event, highlighting the launch of multiple devices including the Pixel 9, Pixel 9 Pro, Pixel 9 Pro XL, and the Pixel 9 Pro Fold. The narrator expresses excitement and optimism about Google's potential to deliver a competitive phone with a focus on new design elements, screen sizes, and color options. The base Pixel 9 is priced at $799, featuring a 6.3-inch screen, while the Pro models start at $999 and $1,099, offering additional features such as a telephoto camera and more RAM. The script also mentions the new design's matte metal sides, polished glass back, and the phones' brighter screens with thinner bezels. The Pixel 9 series is equipped with the Tensor G4 chip, promising improved performance and AI capabilities.

05:03

📱 AI and New Features of Pixel 9

This paragraph delves into the AI capabilities and new features of the Pixel 9 series. It discusses the redesigned Google Weather app with AI-generated comments, the new Screenshots app that organizes and scans screenshots for information, and the Pixel Studio app for creating AI-generated art. The paragraph also touches on the Magic Editor's Reimagine feature for photo editing and the innovative 'Add Me' feature in the camera app, which allows users to be part of a group photo without the need for an additional photographer. Other features mentioned include improved calling clarity, call notes summarization, and Gemini Live for interactive assistant conversations.

10:03

📱 Pixel 9 Pro Fold and Other Gadgets

The script discusses the Pixel 9 Pro Fold, noting its improvements over the previous model, including a larger, brighter screen, a premium design with metal rails and matte glass, and a slim profile. It retains the same price point of $1,799 and comes with the Tensor G4 chip and AI benefits. The narrator expresses a renewed interest in foldable devices due to the Pixel 9 Pro Fold's features. The paragraph also covers the new Pixel Watch 3 with its dual chip architecture for longer battery life, new body score feature, and two size options. Lastly, it mentions the new Pixel Buds Pro 2 with an updated design, improved noise cancellation, and integration with Gemini Live for conversational AI assistance.

Keywords

💡Pixel 9

The Pixel 9 is a smartphone model introduced by Google, which is the main focus of the video. It represents Google's latest attempt to compete in the hardware market with a product that emphasizes software integration. The video discusses the phone's design, features, and improvements over previous models, such as the Pixel 8, highlighting its significance in Google's lineup.

💡Hardware

Hardware refers to the physical components of a device, such as screens, cameras, and processors. In the context of the video, the term is used to describe the tangible aspects of the new Pixel phones, including their design, materials, and the physical features that differentiate them from previous models.

💡Software

Software encompasses the programs and operating systems that run on devices. The video mentions Google's focus on software, implying the integration of advanced features and user experience enhancements in the new Pixel phones, which is a key aspect of Google's approach to product development.

💡Tensor G4 chip

The Tensor G4 chip is the new processor used in the Pixel 9 series, which is highlighted for its improved performance and AI capabilities. It represents a significant hardware component that powers the phone's functions and is crucial for delivering a smooth user experience.

💡AI features

AI features, or artificial intelligence features, are functionalities within the phone that utilize machine learning algorithms to enhance user experience. The video mentions several AI-driven apps and capabilities, such as the new Weather app, Screenshots app, and Pixel Studio, which showcase Google's integration of AI into the Pixel 9's ecosystem.

💡Pixel Buds Pro 2

Pixel Buds Pro 2 are the latest wireless earbuds from Google, designed to offer improved sound quality and active noise cancellation. They are part of the video's discussion on Google's ecosystem of products, emphasizing the company's expansion beyond smartphones into the realm of wearable technology.

💡Foldable phone

A foldable phone is a type of smartphone with a flexible display that can be folded for portability and unfolded for a larger screen experience. The video discusses the Pixel 9 Pro Fold, Google's entry into this niche market, noting its improvements over the previous model and its potential to attract users interested in innovative form factors.

💡Design

Design refers to the visual and physical appearance of a product, including its aesthetic and ergonomic aspects. The video script discusses the design of the new Pixel phones, mentioning features like flat matte metal sides, polished glass backs, and color options, which contribute to the phones' appeal and user experience.

💡Camera

The camera is a key component of smartphones, used for photography and videography. The video highlights the camera features of the Pixel 9 series, including the telephoto lens in the Pro models and the large sensor openings, which suggest improvements in photo quality and capabilities.

💡Display

The display is the screen of a device, which is crucial for visual interaction. The video mentions the brightness and size of the displays in the new Pixel phones, including the larger 6.8-inch screen in the Pro XL model, which are important factors in the overall user experience.

💡Fingerprint reader

A fingerprint reader is a biometric security feature that allows users to unlock their devices using their fingerprint. The video notes the upgrade to an ultrasonic fingerprint reader in the Pixel 9 series, indicating an improvement in security and convenience over the previous optical fingerprint readers.

Highlights

Google's Pixel 9 event showcased new phones, a watch, and new Pixel Buds.

The Pixel 9 lineup includes the Pixel 9, 9 Pro, 9 Pro XL, and 9 Pro Fold with varying screen sizes and features.

The base Pixel 9 starts at $799 with a 6.3-inch screen and new design.

Pixel 9 Pro and Pro XL offer a telephoto camera, more RAM, and a glossy design, starting at $999 and $1099 respectively.

The new design features flat matte metal sides and a polished glass back in four colors.

The Pro models have a larger 6.8-inch screen on the XL variant and a bigger battery.

The Pixel 9 phones have an ultrasonic fingerprint reader under the display, improving upon the optical reader.

The camera visor design is polarizing but features a large lens opening for improved camera capabilities.

The new Tensor G4 chip promises more power, efficiency, and AI capabilities.

The base Pixel 9 and Pro models share the same primary and ultrawide cameras, making the base model a great deal.

The Pixel 9 Pro Fold is a significant improvement over the previous foldable, with a larger, brighter screen and premium design.

New AI features include a redesigned Weather app, a Screenshot app, and Pixel Studio for AI-generated art.

The Add Me camera feature allows users to take group photos without the need for an additional photographer.

The Pixel Watch 3 introduces a larger size option and new health and fitness tracking features.

The Pixel Buds Pro 2 offer improved noise cancellation and integration with the Gemini Live assistant.

The new devices have generated excitement for their hardware and AI capabilities.

The absence of Qi2 wireless charging is noted as a missing feature.

Transcripts

(upbeat music)

- I think Google might have done it.

The only reason I hesitate

is because I've had this exact same feeling

and said this same line before about, like, the Pixel 6.

But Google's phones have always been all about software

and we just want them to get their hardware over the hump

to have a complete competitive phone,

but I think they did it.

So Google had their Pixel 9 event today

and there's actually a bit more

than just the Pixel shown off.

There's also a new watch

and new Pixel Buds, and I'll get to those,

but I just wanna focus this video on the new phones

because I've been waiting for these for a while.

So there's several phones.

There's the Pixel 9, Pixel 9 Pro,

then the Pixel 9 Pro XL, and then a Pixel 9 Pro Fold.

Now, some people are saying the names are a bit confusing.

Honestly, it's not really that bad,

except maybe the Fold.

But the base phone, the Pixel 9 is 799.

And with that you get the 6.3-inch screen size

and it has this new design with the flat matte metal sides

and a polished glass back in four colors,

Porcelain is white, Obsidian is black,

and then Wintergreen and Peony,

kind of Cosmo and Wanda vibes.

And then there's the two Pro phones,

so the Pixel 9 Pro and Pro XL.

So what's sick is the 9 Pro,

it's the exact same size as the Pixel 9,

just like what the iPhone's been doing.

And the only thing that's different about the XL

is it's just bigger.

Just a bigger 6.8-inch screen and a bigger battery.

But yeah, the Pro phones start at 999 and 1,099,

and with that you'll get

an extra third camera, telephoto camera,

they have more RAM,

and they switch to glossy rails

with a soft-touch glass back.

Again in four colors,

Obsidian, Porcelain, Hazel, which looks nice,

and Rose Quartz, kind of a more faded pink.

So I got to handle these phones for like two hours,

and the entire time right from the beginning

I was like, "Oh, wow, yes.

Okay, Google's done it.

These phones really feel and look like actual flagships."

And it's not just because the trend these days

is to do flat sides,

like obviously I've talked about how I like that,

but that's not the only thing.

They feel a little bit heavier in the hand now,

which gives them a more solid feel.

This screens are all much brighter.

So the Pixel 9's Actua display

is 35% brighter than the Pixel 8

and there's thinner bezels all the way around.

And yes, finally it's an ultrasonic fingerprint reader

under the display, not optical.

And the camera visor around the back,

this is polarizing, but the huge lens opening,

I think it just looks promising.

Now, of course, I'm gonna have to test

all these things for the full review

and really see what they're made of,

so get subscribed to see that.

But my first impression at least is that, you know,

these photos are gonna end up very Pixel-like,

very punchy and contrasty,

and they're just bigger sensors than before,

so potentially more shallow depth of field.

But I guess aesthetically, the camera bump,

even though I like the older ones better,

I still kind of don't mind these new ones.

I know it's not the full visor

all the way around like before and I miss that,

but it's now this, like, perfectly flat island

and that is still distinctive.

It's pretty unique as like a Pixel thing, so.

Now specs.

Let's just get them all in one place.

There, that's all the specs that I've been able to confirm.

You'll notice all these phones, across the board,

all the new Pixels have the same Tensor G4 chip.

The new chip is more powerful, they're saying,

and more efficient

and should have dramatically better AI capabilities.

Obviously, it's a Pixel, but we'll get there.

But also notice it's the exact same primary camera

and ultrawide camera

between the base phone and the Pro phone.

So, again, I've talked about this with Pixel before

and it makes the lowest priced one

look like a great deal,

but there's not a lot of hardware difference

between the base phone and the Pro phone,

and it's a $200 difference this year.

But for that in the Pro phone, what do you get?

Maybe a slightly better screen, a telephoto camera,

more RAM, and a better selfie camera.

That's kind of it.

Now, again, I don't wanna make the mistake

of judging it too soon because I haven't benchmarked it

and I don't know what long-term performance is like,

but when Google says Tensor is 20% faster with web browsing

and 17% faster with app launching, I believe them.

I mean, these phones are really quick and snappy,

at least from my impression.

And I just wanna say again

that I'm really glad they made the smaller phone

with all of the benefits of the Pro,

because there are a lot of people

who want a better phone but not a gigantic phone.

So having a Pro that's not a Pro Max is sick.

But of course, these would not be Pixel phones

without a boatload of AI,

and so there are definitely some new AI features

coming along with these Pixel 9s.

The big ones are the new Weather app,

the new Screenshots app, and Pixel Studio.

So the Google Weather app

has been redesigned for the Pixel 9s, as you can see,

which is a bunch of tiles now,

and this very, you know,

modern-looking version of the weather.

And right at the top is an AI-generated comment

about the weather,

maybe sometimes telling you what to wear or something.

Cool, I guess.

I almost never use the stock weather app on any phone

and that probably won't change here,

but for those who do, all right, fine,

that's a good improvement.

The new Screenshots app is interesting.

Again, I don't think many people are going to use this,

but if you do, it's basically a new app

that gathers all of your screenshots

specifically in one place,

and then it scans each one of them

for any information in them

to be able to remind you later

or help you search through later.

But then there's the Pixel Studio app,

which I guess that's the hot new thing in devices with AI,

is to have an app called Studio

that just lets you create AI-generated art on device

with a simple text prompt.

Apple has just announced that in iOS 18,

but they're not shipping that yet.

But the one thing I was impressed

with playing with this one is it's really quick,

like maybe three seconds or so to generate a new image.

And it's completely on device,

so it'll still be this fast

when your internet connection sucks

or you're offline or something like that.

So yeah, I don't know,

maybe your generated pictures or memes

for text conversations or for Twitter

or something like that,

but yeah, it's another AI app on the phone.

Also, Magic Editor in photos has this new Reimagine feature

where you can not only erase things

or reframe things in your pictures,

but you can now highlight a section

and reimagine it as something,

and it can be whatever you type,

just something completely different.

So I guess you can straight-up

make up new scenes and pictures now

that totally didn't happen,

kind of like Samsung's sketch to image.

What is going on?

What is a picture?

But maybe the best what is a photo feature

is this new one in the camera,

again, built right in, called Add Me,

and it's actually, I think, pretty impressive.

I got to use it once,

and you're about to see exactly me using it once.

But basically if you ever have a group of people

and you wanna take a group shot

but you don't have anyone else

who could take the group shot for you, okay, no problem,

the Add Me feature walks you through this.

So okay, first you open the camera mode

and it tells you to kind of wiggle the camera

around a little bit so it can get a better sense

of 3D space and the environment.

Then the photographer, number one,

takes a picture of everyone except for them

and leaves a little room for themselves.

Then once they take that,

they can have everybody peace out

and then one of those other people

becomes the new photographer

and tells the first person where to pose

so that they can sort of be next to everyone else.

It overlays where the people were

and a nice white box over the scene

to help keep the framing the same.

Once the second person poses,

they snap the picture

and Google straight-up merges the pictures together

into a group photo with everyone.

Another moment that totally never happened.

Plus it keeps the originals too.

Very 2024.

What is a photo?

There's some other things

like better Clear Calling, Call Notes,

can summarize phone calls that you're on for you,

Gemini Live, which is like having literal conversations

with the assistant called Gemini.

It's still confusing.

But generally I was most excited

about the hardware of these phones.

And then there's the folding phone.

So this is the Pixel 9 Pro Fold.

I don't know why it's called that,

I don't know why it's not just called the Pixel Fold 2.

Maybe it's easier to remember

'cause now they're all 9s, but whatever.

They added Pro to the name for some reason, but it's a Fold,

and the point is it's dramatically improved

from the Pixel Fold that came last year.

And it's the same price, 1,799.

So, look, Google cooked with this thing.

I think the last Fold

I was constantly calling the best foldable to use closed,

which is kind of a half compliment, but it's true.

This new one has an even bigger screen.

It's 6.3 inches,

so right now it's about the size of the other base Pixel 9.

And it's still reachable

because the bezels are all pretty thin.

The whole phone is thin all the way around

and it's also much brighter.

It's 80% brighter than the last Fold.

And then on the inside

it's also a larger eight-inch display that, like I said,

it mirrors the home screen layout of the cover display.

And the phone with the metal rails now

and a soft-touch matte glass,

it just all feels even more premium,

like a flagship than ever before.

And look at how thin this thing is.

This has gotta be,

I mean, it's definitely one of the thinnest

foldables out now.

Maybe not the thinnest,

but each side is barely thicker than a USB-C port,

and so combined with the flat sides,

it's barely thicker than a normal phone.

Now, of course, it still has this camera bump on the back,

which is, okay, this one's worse. (chuckles)

I don't see a lot of thoughtful design

in this camera island,

but I feel like I can accept it

with the rest of this phone's design being so impressive.

It's just so good.

It feels great to use open, it's awesome closed.

I feel like there's just a better version

of the previous best foldable, the OnePlus Open.

Of course, still TBD on battery life

and camera quality with these new cameras

that are different from the main Pixel 9s,

but, you know, my general first impression

is clearly pretty positive.

It also, of course, has the Tensor G4, 16 gigs of RAM,

and all the AI benefits that come from these new Pixels:

Pixel Studio, Screenshot app, Weather app,

all that other Pixel stuff.

It is also IPX8 rated,

so it can probably take a splash.

And Google also mentioned that they're partnering

with some number of developers

to optimize some games for the interior screen,

so looking forward to see what those end up being.

And it also comes in two colors:

Porcelain, white; and Obsidian, black.

So I think consider me highly interested.

You know, I've kind of been off the foldables train

for my own daily driver for a while,

I've gone back to dailying slab phones,

but I think this Pixel 9 Pro Fold has a chance

to get me back to being a foldable user

if that outer screen remains just as usable

as any other phone.

And the bonus is a gigantic eight-inch screen

whenever I want it,

one of the biggest displays literally ever in a phone.

So these phones feel, for now,

like they've actually achieved the modernized glow-up

that we've been hoping for from Google's flagship phone.

Maybe Qi2 is the only thing missing

that I'm actually bummed about

that I can see on the spec sheet.

But of course, as promised, it's not just the phones.

There's also a couple other gadgets.

So the new Pixel Watch 3 has basically the same design

but now comes in two sizes.

There's a new larger 45-millimeter size

that gets you, like, 40% more screen.

And the bezel is also a little bit smaller.

So these screens are also a lot brighter, 2,000 nits.

And there's a new body score feature,

which it seems like everyone suddenly decided

to copy from Garmin this year.

But that will sort of summarize

all of your metrics into one score at the top.

And there's also some new running features as well.

Potentially the biggest change

is the new dual chip architecture

to give you even longer battery life,

they're saying up to 36 hours in Battery Saver,

which isn't exactly pushing the industry limit,

but it should be better than last year.

And same price, 349 for the small one,

399 for the big one.

And then there's the new Pixel Buds.

So the Pixel Buds Pro 2,

which at this point are kind of like Gemini buds.

So they updated the design to be a bit smaller,

as you can see,

just these little bud things with no stalks.

There's a little tiny stabilizer fin

to keep it in your ear, hopefully.

Sometimes it doesn't work with my ears, but I'll try.

And then there's a new custom-designed A1 chip

based on Tensor

that improves active noise cancellation,

improves overall sound quality,

and also lets you have a back-and-forth conversation

with Gemini Live.

Just a straight-up, out-loud,

back-and-forth convo with an assistant.

I will definitely be getting my hands on these to test,

but definitely let me know what you're most interested in

for the full reviews of these things.

I'm planning on getting my hands on as many as possible,

get subscribed to see this stuff.

But is it the AI features or is it the new camera stuff?

Is it the new hardware, which I think looks pretty sick?

Let me know in the comment section below.

Now, a few years back I put up a poll on Twitter

asking how many of you use a case on your phone,

and, like, three quarters of you guys said you do.

And I guess that actually makes a lot of sense

and phones have gotten more expensive since then,

so I can't blame you.

So if you're thinking of picking one up,

I definitely recommend checking out

the Grip Case from channel sponsor dbrand.

It's kind of the whole package.

It comes in matte black, it's super grippy,

it has clicky buttons,

and it adds those nice strong magnets.

And yes, obviously also super protective,

so I'll leave a link down below if you wanna check it out.

Either way, that's been it.

Thanks for watching.

Catch you guys on the next one.

Peace.

(upbeat music)